Winter heating payment to be paid in Scotland from December 2025

The Scottish winter heating payment, a one-off sum of £59.75, is being paid from December 2025, according to Which?¹. Carers UK states that payments for winter 2025/26 started from mid December 2025 and that most people who were eligible were paid by the end of February 2026².

The payment replaces the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. Carers UK says Cold Weather Payments are no longer available there, and that the winter heating payment, unlike the Cold Weather Payment, does not depend on how cold the weather gets in the area². In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Cold Weather Payments remain £25 for each week between 1 November and 31 March where the average temperature in the local area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days¹. Which? describes the Scottish payment as a single payment for people who may be eligible for Cold Weather Payment support¹.

The wider Winter Fuel Payment is worth £200 per household, or £300 if someone is aged 80 or over, according to Which?¹. Carers UK gives the range as between £100 and £300, and says a shared payment is made to couples not claiming Pension Credit, income-related ESA or Universal Credit, with both partners over 80 receiving £150 each². Which? says all pensioners receive the payment, but that where income is £35,000 or more it is taken back through the tax system, and that the deadline to opt out of this year's payment was 15 September¹. Carers UK says payments are generally made between November and December, and that people whose gross taxable income is higher than £35,000 are likely to have the payment recovered later through HMRC².

In Scotland, Carers UK says the equivalent benefit is the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, with £203.40 or £305.10 depending on age for those who have reached State Pension age, paid by Social Security Scotland in 2025/26, and that people with a taxable income over £35,000 may have the payment recovered through tax and can opt out online². Which? does not give these Scottish figures¹.

Which? reports that pensions minister Torsten Bell has said the government intends to keep the £35,000 limit at its current level for now, in line with other frozen tax thresholds, and that analysis from consultants LCP suggests around half a million pensioners will lose the payment over the next four years¹. It adds that more than 100,000 pensioners could lose the Winter Fuel Payment over the next year as rising incomes push more people over the cap, and gives the example of a pensioner with an annual income of £33,600 receiving the payment this year whose income would rise to around £35,027 next year¹.

Why it matters for households

For households in Scotland, the £59.75 payment is a fixed one-off sum that does not depend on how cold the weather turns, so eligibility rests on benefit receipt rather than local temperature². Payments began in mid December 2025, with most eligible people paid by the end of February 2026². In the rest of the UK, Cold Weather Payments remain tied to seven consecutive days at or below zero degrees, paid automatically within 14 working days of each cold spell².

The £35,000 income threshold affects the Winter Fuel Payment across the UK, and Which? reports that rising state and private pensions will push more pensioners over it¹. The Warm Home Discount gives eligible households £150 off electricity between October and March, and Which? says that in Scotland households need to apply directly to their energy supplier if claiming certain benefits, while in England and Wales those receiving the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit should get it automatically¹. Carers UK gives the qualifying date for the discount as 23 August 2026².

What happens next

The winter heating payment run for 2025/26 is expected to be complete by the end of February 2026². The Household Support Fund, extended in the Spring Budget, runs until the end of March 2026¹. The £35,000 Winter Fuel Payment threshold is intended to stay at its current level for now, according to pensions minister Torsten Bell¹.